The dawn in Raven was deceptively peaceful. From the safety of the upper terraces, the city looked serene, its alabaster towers kissed by the orange glow of the rising sun. But JC had learned long ago that peace in Raven was a fragile illusion. The shadows of its alleys held truths too dangerous to speak, and its people, once neighbors, had become watchful enemies.
He leaned against the cold stone wall of an abandoned bakery, his brown skin blending with the dim light. His calm, stoic demeanor masked the turmoil within. Across from him, Alice paced furiously, her curls bouncing with each restless step. Her mixed complexion seemed pale against the deep red of her tunic, her emotions bleeding into every movement.
"This is insane, JC," Alice hissed, her voice barely above a whisper. "We can't just wait here. They'll find us!"
"We don't have many options," JC replied, his tone even, steady.
Alice whirled on him, her dark eyes flashing. "Options? How about not waiting to be dragged out of here in chains?"
From the corner of the room, Rex spoke up, his voice trembling. "They'll come for us no matter what. It's not like we can hide forever." His pale hands fidgeted with the fraying edges of his sleeves.
JC met Rex's fearful gaze and then glanced back at Alice. "We're not running. Not yet."
Their world had crumbled just three days ago, but it felt like an eternity. The memory was still fresh in JC's mind—the fire that had consumed the marketplace, the glowing symbols that appeared on their skin like curses from the gods.
It had started as an ordinary day. JC, Alice, and Rex had gone to the market for supplies. Raven's streets were alive with the hum of life, vendors shouting their wares, children darting between carts. The air smelled of baked bread and spiced meats, and for a fleeting moment, JC had let himself believe they were just like everyone else.
But then the fire started.
It came without warning, a pillar of golden flame that erupted from nowhere, swallowing a merchant's stall. People screamed, scattering in every direction. JC had frozen, his eyes drawn to the fire as though it called to him. Beside him, Alice had clutched his arm, her grip tight enough to bruise.
And then the symbols appeared.
They burned onto their skin, glowing with an otherworldly light. JC had looked down at his arm, his calm exterior cracking as he saw the intricate rune spiraling across his forearm. Alice's wrist bore a similar mark, while Rex, trembling and pale, had one etched onto his collarbone.
"What...what is this?" Rex had stammered, his voice barely audible over the chaos.
Before JC could respond, the whispers began.
"Scorchers," someone had hissed.
"The blood of Renkai."
The accusations spread like wildfire. By the time the guards arrived, the crowd had already turned on them. Stones were thrown, insults screamed. JC had barely managed to pull Rex and Alice to safety before the mob could reach them.
Now, huddled in the shadows of an abandoned bakery, the trio grappled with the reality of their situation.
---
"Do you even understand what those marks mean?" Alice asked, breaking the silence. Her voice was sharp, but underneath it was a tremor of fear.
JC nodded slowly. "I've read about them. They're the marks of Renkai. The scorchers."
Alice laughed bitterly. "Great. So we're cursed descendants of a man who destroyed cities and got himself banished by the gods. Fantastic."
"We don't know that for sure," JC said, though the weight in his chest suggested otherwise.
Rex shifted uncomfortably, his hands still fidgeting. "The elders always said Renkai's bloodline was wiped out. If that's true, how...how can we have these marks?"
"That's the question, isn't it?" JC replied.
The three fell into an uneasy silence. Outside, the sounds of the city continued, oblivious to the turmoil within their hiding place.
---
As night fell, they decided to move. Staying in one place for too long was too dangerous. JC led the way, his steps deliberate and quiet. Alice followed close behind, her gaze darting nervously to every shadow. Rex brought up the rear, his hands trembling as he clutched a small knife JC had given him earlier.
The streets were eerily quiet, the usual hum of life replaced by an oppressive stillness. JC's sharp eyes caught glimpses of patrols—guards moving in groups, their torches casting flickering shadows on the walls.
"They're looking for us," Alice whispered, her voice barely audible.
JC nodded. "Stay close."
They slipped through the alleys, avoiding the main roads. The city felt like a maze, its once-familiar paths now foreign and threatening.
At one point, they came across a patrol standing at the entrance of a narrow street. JC held up a hand, signaling for Alice and Rex to stop. They pressed themselves against the wall, holding their breath as the guards passed by.
When the coast was clear, JC turned to his friends. "We need to get out of the city."
"And go where?" Alice asked, her voice trembling. "You think the wilderness is safer?"
"It's safer than here," JC replied. "At least out there, we won't have mobs chasing us."
---
They continued moving, slipping past patrols and navigating the twisting alleys. The city walls loomed in the distance, their towering height a daunting reminder of how far they had to go.
When they finally reached the outskirts of the city, exhaustion weighed heavily on them. But there was no time to rest. The gates were heavily guarded, and climbing the walls was a risky prospect.
"We'll wait until the guards change shifts," JC said, his voice firm. "Then we'll make our move."
As they waited in the shadows, Alice turned to JC. "Do you think this will ever stop? The running, the fear?"
JC didn't answer immediately. He looked at her, his calm expression betraying a flicker of uncertainty. "I don't know. But I do know we can't give up."
Alice nodded, her fiery determination returning. "Then we'll keep moving. Together."
Rex, though still trembling, managed a small smile. "Together."
JC allowed himself a rare moment of hope. Despite everything, they had each other. And as long as that was true, they had a chance.
---